Animal-trap.



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN W'. HAi/VKINS, OF MUNFORDVILLE, KENTUCKY.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SIPECIFICATGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,012, dated February 11, 1902.

Application filed october 11,1901. serial No. 78,378. (No man.)

The object of the present invention is to iin-- prove the construction of animal-traps and to provide a simple and inexpensive one of great strength and durability adapted to be readily manufactured and capable of catching and destroying moles and other animals.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In thedrawings, Figure l is a perspective View of an animal-trap constructed in accordance with this invention and shown set. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the follower or plunger.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures ot' the drawings.

1 designates a support composed of a pair of uprights or bars 2, spaced apart by upper and lower blocks 3 and 4 and secured at their upper ends to a transverse bar 5, which is extended beyond the bars 2 to form handles or grips. The lower ends of the bars 2 are extended beyond the lower spacing-block 4 and are rounded and pointed toadapt the support to be readilyinserted in the ground. The uprights form a guide or Way for the reception of a slide 6 of a vertically-movable follower or plunger, which carries pointed rods or spikes 7, upon which the captured animal is impaled and which are driven through the animal by the falling of the vertically-movable plunger.

The slide 6 consists of a vertical plate or piece provided with a central vertical flange or web'S, extending through the opening between the uprights or bars 2 and provided with perforations for the reception of pins or keys 9, which are arranged at the back of the support. The plunger consists of the said slide, a front slab or piece 10, and a connecting-block 1l, forming a weight and consisting of one or more sections, as shown.

The trap, with the exception of the pointed rods or spikes, may be constructed of Wood, and the connecting block or portion assists in weighting the vertically-movable plunger, which when the trap is sprung or tripped is adapted to drive the pointed rods or spikes through a mole or other animal. The connecting block or piece extends outward from the lower end of the slide, and the slab or piece 10 extends laterally `from the block. The spikes or pointed rods are arranged in pairs at the ends of the front piece 10 and are secured in suitable sockets or perforations thereof. Thesespikesorpointedrodsdepend from the ends of the front piece and are adapted to be driven into the ground at a mole-run, and they are capable of im paling and destroying a mole or other animal. The upper edge or face of the top bar of the support is rounded to receive a flexible connection 12, consisting, preferably, of a cord and attached at one end to the top of the slide and provided at its other end with a short bar or detent 13. To set the trap, the vertically-movable plunger is raised and the dexible connection is drawn over the top of the trap, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the bar 13 being arranged at the back of the support. One end of the bar or piece 13 is engaged with a shoulder 14 of the support and its other end with a shoulder 15 of the trigger 16. The shoulder 14: is formed by a recess of the lower spacing-block 4, and the trigger, which is arranged in the crotch formed by the lower portions of the uprights or bars, is provided with a shoulder to e11- gage the support at the front face of the lower spacing-block. The trigger 16 is arranged substantially in a horizontal position when the trap is set and it extends in advance and in rear ofthe support, its shoulder 17 being arranged between its ends atrits upper face. One or more'shoulders 15 may be provided, and the bar or detent 13 is arranged in an inclined position., The trap is placed adjacent to a mole-run, with the trigger close to the surface of the ground in such position that it will be lifted sufficiently to trip the trap when a mole passes under it. This will release the plunger, which will drop by gravity and force the pointed rods or spikes into IOO the ground, thereby impaling the mole in the run. The trap may be arranged in anyother position, and a suitable bait may be provided for attracting other animals. The ends of the bar or detent `13 are beveled to enable it to engage the shoulders of the support and the trigger.

It will be seen that the trap is simple, inexpensive, strong, and durable, that it is exceedingly sensitive, and that it is adapted for catching moles and other animals.

What I claim is- 1. A trap comprising a support composed lof uprghts spaced apart to form a guide or way, a vertically-movable slide located at the front of the supports and having a flange or web extending through the space between 4the uprights, transverse fastening devices passing through the web or flange and arranged at the back of the support and detacliably securing the said web or flange ,to the nprights, a front piece connectediwith the slide; and providedwithineans foi-.engaging an animal, and means for setting and tripping4 the trap, substantially asfdescribed.

2. A trap comprising. a support composed; of uprights spaced apart., and blocks arrangedQ between the uprights, one of the .blocks being located adjacent to the lower portionsof the uprights, said lower portions being extended, to for-1n acrotch, avertieally-niovable plunger having a slide arranged at. the front. of. thesupportand providedvwith aweb oniiangeA extending through the space between the up-A rightsand provided with transverse fasten? tended beyond the uprights to form handles,

the vertically-movable plunger consisting of the slide arranged at the front of the support having the iange or web projecting through the space between theuprights and provided withatransverse fastening devicelocated at the rear. faces of theu-prights and detachably securing the plungerA to the support, the front piece having depending spikes or rods, and the weighted connecting-block, the flexible connection attachedto the plunger` and adapted to be drawn over the top of thesupport, the

'bar 13 attached to the said iexible connection, and the trigger arranged'V between the llower portions ofthe uprights, substantially fas described.

In testimony that I kclaim tlierforegoing as myown I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J OHN` W. I-IAWKINS. Witnesses:

W. J. MACY,

W. H. VANFLEET. 

